Wow, I hadn't followed the prices of those pieces much, but I now see that it is a big change.

I included a blurb from a selling listing of August of 2011, so some of our newer readers might have a historical reference of asking price at the peak of promotion. That is the same type of coin, right? I may be confusing the different pagodas, as they are not my specialty.

This is an important cautionary tale for investing in general. Always be suspicious if someone is vigorously promoting something. Whether it is an obscure coin, or a pump-and-dump scheme for thinly traded stocks, it is important to have your own clearly thought out reasons for purchasing something.

The 1984 silver pagoda medals were actively discussed (and promoted) in this coin forum. These discussions helped create a US marketplace in which the prices sky-rocketed. At the time, it was exciting to imagine I could own some 1oz silver medals with such amazing value. Still, it was frightening since these medals seemed to be passing quickly from one investor to another at higher and higher prices. And, then, the party was over. Prices plummeted. For a while, it seemed the sets may stabilize at $4500-$6000. Now, I doubt if they will stabilize (find a bottom) above $2000. And this appears to be true of all of the rest of the modern Chinese gold, silver, platinum coins and medals.

Remember when the collapse began. Forum members would assure us it was a Spring slowdown, and then a Summer slowdown, and then a . . . slowdown. Whatever it was, it has continued for several years without a real bounce to the upside.

I got caught up in the fever. Hopefully, I have learned something. Now, I search for what I like and carefully try to decide whether the price is appropriate.

Don't underestimate the 84 Silver pagodas. The low mintage cannot be changed. As the MCC market matures the low mintage will get the higher price. How many early year silver MCC w/ that low of mintage? I think the price collapse was due to the emotional debate about them on this forum and the manipulated bullion price drop. Again the entire argument boiled down to this....."mislabel". Some silver plate pagodas were labeled as real silver. NGC has mislabeled many MCC. NGC has read the debate on this forum and they have no clue why forum members became so emotional. Strange how it all played out. When the truth came out it was just another mislabel problem so why the big whoopee do? Opinions on this forum do affect prices. High prices for the 84 silver pagodas will return..........

The silver 1989 Zhao Gongming / God of War and Wealth should take the prize. With a mintage of 2430, these silver medals found a special place in our (members of the coin forum) hearts. We analyzed their designs, looking for varieties, and argued whether one of the three varieties was more or less common than the other two varieties. Along the way, we spent a lot of money on them. I do not know who had the hoard of these medals and I do not know how we were all convinced to purchase them. I do know that I own a Clear Claw Variety and a Clouded Claw Variety in my collection. Oh, I have been gullible. I hope I have learned something along the way. Mark Bonke [PS I also have two 1984 silver pagoda sets and three 1984 silver goldfish sets. So, I have participated in all of the fads of the past few years.]

The silver 1989 Zhao Gongming / God of War and Wealth should take the prize. With a mintage of 2430, these silver medals found a special place in our (members of the coin forum) hearts. We analyzed their designs, looking for varieties, and argued whether one of the three varieties was more or less common than the other two varieties. Along the way, we spent a lot of money on them. I do not know who had the hoard of these medals and I do not know how we were all convinced to purchase them. I do know that I own a Clear Claw Variety and a Clouded Claw Variety in my collection. Oh, I have been gullible. I hope I have learned something along the way. Mark Bonke [PS I also have two 1984 silver pagoda sets and three 1984 silver goldfish sets. So, I have participated in all of the fads of the past few years.]

Mark you are not the only one who has been gullible, I think we all have been gullible to varying degrees but also you are looking at a very short time frame. Nobody can be certain but I am very optimistic that these coins will provide you a good return 10 years from now although I’m not sure if you purchased to flip or hold for a longer term.

The majority of coins that I have purchased over the years have been gold/silver pandas with a few other random MCC along the way. I never bought the goldfish, pagodas or god of war medals because I was not interested in them but it was not because I thought they were bad investments. If you like the designs and historical significance of these medals then you should not feel bad about buying them because they are something you enjoy and if you choose to sell will more than likely get your money back plus some.

I don’t have any regrets for any of the coins and other collectibles I’ve purchased but I sure have made a lot of bone-headed moves in the stock market several years ago that I wish I could take back now. Those were my most gullible (and costly) decisions … looking back now I wish I would have put more of that money into bullion/numismatics.

Anyway … you have not been anymore gullible than many of us here so you’re not alone my friend !

I realize this is a mcc forum but if you look at palau tiffany coins mintage 1000Which are extremely eye appealing and popular those price have dropped some40 to 50 percent likewise

Forest and trees pops to mind... I would never lump pagodas with god of wealth nor Longevity

Pagodas have their very own twisting story and a poor candidate for true barometerAnd as fever highlighted... The recent 68 longevit brought over 1k at auctionI believe 69 was consistetently achieving 2k in 2012

So i contend at the very least those stored value at a better rate than spot silver fellAnd holders if they choose can swap out of it and reload bigger in this buyers marketLongevity is too iconic imo... Shes a tour de force

Logged

"Okay, You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we're not back by dawn... call the president" - Burton

The 1989 NY Expo Panda Silver medal is another one which comes to mind. From a $500 medal in PF 69 UC to a $200 medal now.

I love this medal :) maybe I'm foolish but I am a buyer at $200 all day long.... diclosure :I own a couple at apx $375 or so:( ,btw what is an 1989 pf 69 god of wealth worth these days? it is a cool coin IMHO

When bullion breaks out we will all look like Einsteins. Just gotta survive the roller coaster ride.....

I'm going to give my 2 cents on this. I haven't invested in Chinese coins for that long but have been investing most of my adult life and have had my share of mistakes a long the way, mainly in stocks and then in print investing. Bullion had it's bull market back 2000-2010. The bull market in stocks started in 2009 and I suspect has may be five more years to go, but up 16% in 2012 and nearly 30% in 2013 this year might be difficult and volatile. I would not count on bullion breaking out in fact it could touch $1000 as people bail out of precious metals and move into stocks. I don't know if this will happen but I don't like to get into anything that's had a big move. After investing in the stock market for 27 years the best time to buy is when everyone hates it and no one is talking about it (the spring of 2009 for stocks). This is really true in everything. You need to make the investing decisions independent of what anyone thinks. Whenever I hear a bunch of people talking about something it becomes an avoid. I do think that the low mintage coins and medals will be back but from what I've heard here and have read about the Chinese art market Chinese art and collectables are the most volatile in the world.

I think so, cycles last a while. They usually start with something very cheap that has been ignored for a while, something that no one is interested in or talking about. Then it starts moving up quite a bit and goes from dirt cheap to fair valued and then ultimately everyone is talking about it and it gets expensive. And then the correction phase to fair-valued and maybe even cheap once again. Stocks are somewhere in the middle right now, but the nascent economic recovery still has a ways to go. This year might a tough one for stocks since valuations in some sectors are not cheap, but some sectors are cheap. Maybe Jade was in the same boat. What's the next big wave? I like the fact that some are saying medal prices are coming down.

Metals may drop temporarily but keep in mind precious metals are a loaded spring. Demand has not dropped (supply has) and only increased worldwide. When the manipulation ends expect a price jump so stay long bullion and MCC.....

Noticed another pf68 3.3 longevity eclipsed 1kI love when i see medals or coins auction consistentlyAt these round numbers... People desperatly dont want toOverpay but theyll bid it up to that level in a heartbeatCoiled spring

Logged

"Okay, You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we're not back by dawn... call the president" - Burton

The 87 Mirror God of Longevity is getting good price/demand in this depressed market. When the market breaks out sometime this year, they will be a high demand MCC. Wonder if we will ever get any good information on the 1993 Matte God of Longevity? so NGC can grade it too........